B&W heniochus and foxface in the same tank. anyone have experience?

[lee_in_corpus]

ok back in december i saw a B&W heniochus and decided i really liked it.  i did the research, and based on what i read, everything in my tank was compatable.
bought the heniochus (at petco.....which i almost never do with fish, but my friend who sold me the tank said all his stuff came from there, and he never had any problems).

for the 1st few days, the damsels hounded him mercisly, and he and the foxface would go after each other quite a bit.  after a few days the damsels left him alone, but the fox kept brushing against him and puffing out his poker fin thingies.

then the heater went out, the temp dropped over 10 degrees, and ick broke out, taking out the heniochus and my sand shifter. 


so now i have no idea if the fox and heni would have eventually calmed down, or would it have been a fight to the death. 

so has anyone kept these 2 guys in the same tank?

[Bergy]

..., taking out the heniochus and my sand shifter.

Sand SIFTER


as for the butterfly... i love them, but i only know a couple folks that have good luck and they have HUGE tanks...


im not sure about the compatibility though... so cant commetn on that...

plus, they are not reef safe so i cant ever have one...

[lee_in_corpus]

oh damn, i didnt even think to check reef compability!!

wow...my wonderful (sarcasm) ex who encouraged me to buy that heni didn't even think of that either.  she claimed to be a bit of an expert on marine tanks and she got so upset that weekend because she said i was treating her like she didn't know what she was talking about.  the irony.......

[Just_Greg]

first, what size tank are we talking?  for some reason, i thought you have a pretty small setup, but i may be confusing you with another person.

are there enuff hiding places in your tank?  if you're short on rockwork, there is usually a lot more territoriality-related aggression.  also, new fish need to establish a place in the pecking order, which can take a few days (i'd discount the damsels cuz they're just plain nasty).

i've kept a foxface with other BF's with no trouble...in fact, the foxface and the CBB used to line up and wait for the attentions of the neon goby i kept with them.

IME, a foxface doesn't really bother any other fish that doesn't bother it first.  BTW, you realize that the foxface is venomous, right?  be careful with its dorsal spines.  they aren't a toxic as lionfish, but they will make you wish you hadn't been skewered.  altho they're omnivores, make sure your foxface gets some vegetable matter in its diet (they're like weed-whackers with fins).

finally, hennies are fairly delicate fish, much more so than the foxface or the damsels.  as for whether they're reef safe, they generally are, but may pick at polyps.  i'd call them reef safe with caution...

HTH

[Bergy]

in general, butterflys are NOT reef safe...   
they love sps polyps....  they seem to like the small colonial critters in thier little bitty mouths...

not sure if they will be okay withlarger softies or leathers, maybe???

and yes, the foxface is usually the one getting bullied...  they hide well.... and yes, lots of rock work is good...

[lee_in_corpus]

my tank is either 150 or 180.  i dont have a lot of rock, but theres enough for everything in the tank to be completely hidden, from each other as well as from someone looking into the tank.  my goal is to get 20-30 mor epounds of liverock, build it upwards, layer it a bit, and add 3-4 more corals and 2-3 more fish.

and then quit jacking with it!  :p

yes, i know the foxface is venemous.....my friend who sold me the tank forgot to mention it...luckily i found out pretty early on researching what i needed to get to feed it.  i feed the tank froen brine shrimp, frozen mysis (sp?) shrimp, frozen formula one cubes, and some other kind of vegetable based frozen cube whos name escapes me right now.  i also add in flakes, grushed algae discs, and pellets.  i used to have some of those algae strips you clamp to the side of the tank, but i keep forgetting to grab another pack when im at the pet store.

and hes always grazing at algae buildup on the back glass and the rocks. 

based on what i want to do, i think im gonna pass on the heni.  i think im gonna focus more on corals....and if hes a nibbler.......

and yes, i hate those damn damsels.......

[RandyFolds]

and yes, the foxface is usually the one getting bullied...  they hide well.... and yes, lots of rock work is good...

I have had foxfaces go both ways. Some are the most skittish fish in the tank, some are complete bastards and immediately attack whatever I add to the tank, no matter the species.

You can always buy nori from the grocery store too.

[Bergy]

nori/seaweed at the store is less then half the price...

just make sure it is not 'seasoned' ... like teriyaki or whatever...


if you ahve a selection to choose from/different 'brands', then look at the nutrition label and pick the healthier one.. the one with less calories/fat, etc...

[lee_in_corpus]

btw...THANK YOU for this great idea!

i hit up the local grocery store........unseasoned roasted nori, $2.30 for a package of 10 12X12 sheets.

the foxface loves it!!

[Bergy]

i live near an asian market, and i can get the nori in a package of 50 shts for $6 or so...

i tear each sheet in hafl when i feed it, and it will last a day  or so, and i feed once a week, so $6 lasts a year